SOLOMON Islands National Women’s Football Team has booked its semi final spot in the OFC women’s qualifier after overcoming Fiji for a vital win 3-1 in Group A yesterday at FFS stadium in Samoa.
The win against Fiji has give them 3 important point to go on top of group A with 7 points after 2 wins and 1 draw in 3 matches played.
The final group yesterday is a must win for the Batram Suri-coached side as they aimed for a semi-final spot. Thus, the Batram Suri-led side has accomplished this objective after beating Fiji to advance to semi-finals.
Solomon Islands hold a crucial lead over Fiji in their final Group A match as Captain Ileen Pegi doubled the lead at half-time to make it 2-0 halftime score.
The matches were indeed a tough one for the Suri-coached side but with intense performance from the girls, they found the right combination in the first half and broke the deadlock with a strike in the 16th minute when Pegi fired into the top corner from just inside the box and put Solomon Islands on the lead against Fiji with a 1-0 score.
Fiji tried to level the score in the early minutes of the first half but failed as their scoring chances were wasted. Again, in the 45th minute, Pegi doubled the lead to make it a 2-0 half time score.
Both teams regrouped in the second half with renewed strength as the Suri-coached side hoped to extend their lead, whilst Fiji continued its attempt to level the score.
However, whatever was said at the break seemed to stir Fiji into life in the second-half. But it took them until the 80th minute to score. This came about when Fiji’s Madeline Arukau was taken out by Margaret Koefela in the box and Referee Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh awarded a penalty which saw Narieta Leba step up and slotted Fiji’s only goal.
Despite Fiji’s strong pressure in the second half, Solomon Islands with a strong and balanced defence were able to hold down their rivals and in the 90th minute, Pegi slotted home another goal from a penalty to make it 3-1 fulltime score.
In an interview, Head Coach Suri told OFC Media that his game plan against Fiji worked well and that was the reason why his side was able to beat Fiji.
Coach Suri added that it was the first time his side beat Fiji since he took charge of the National Women’s Team and he was more than grateful for that.
“Back to the match, I am indeed happy that we are through to the semi-finals and I have to commend the girls’ performance all throughout the match,” he added.
When asked about Pegi’s three goals, Coach Suri said he told Pegi before the match that he trusted her to score in the final group match as she was unable to score in their first two matches.
“Before the match, I told Pegi that I trust her to score against Fiji so we can book a spot in the semi-final and yes she did and I am indeed proud of her,” he said.
“Now we have to forget this match and focus on our semi-final match against the group B runner up, whether it is Samoa or Tonga when they face each other in the final group B decider.
“But we are prepared for the semi-final match and hope we will get through to the grand-final,” Coach Suri added.
Meanwhile, Fiji, as the runner in Group A, will face New Zealand, whilst Solomon Islands will face the runner up in group B, Samoa.
Hosts Samoa have beaten Tonga 2-0 to finish runner up in Group B and will play Solomon Islands on Friday for a place in next Monday’s final.
By FLOYD TERRY JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
